I live the gospel of Jesus Christ because I know that Jesus Christ is real, that He atoned for my sins, and that He wants me to return to live with Him. I know that obeying His commandments will help me be happy in this life and return to Him. I haven't seen Jesus Christ with my mortal eyes, but  my faith in Him allows me to know that He is real. I also have evidence that Jesus Christ is real and that living His gospel is the way to be happy in this life.  That evidence is in my changed heart as I experience the blessings of the atonement for myself and others and as I am blessed with empathy and compassion for others. That evidence is also in the fruits of living the gospel, the sweet deliciousness of clean living. By obeying the Word of Wisdom (God's revelation on eating healthy and avoiding addictive substance), I am healthier and avoid the chains of addiction. By staying morally clean I avoid sexually transmitted diseases, unwanted pregnancy, and maintain respect for myself. By adhering to the modern day revelation that marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God, I have a stable home in which to raise my children. “Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them” (Matthew 7:20).

This doesn't mean that those who keep the commandments of Jesus Christ are perfect and have no trials or that they will never experience the results of others breaking the commandments. And when I say I live the gospel of Jesus Christ, that doesn't mean I never make mistakes or sin. That is also the beauty of the gospel--it is a progression towards Christ. When I do falter or am affected by the wrong choices of others, Jesus Christ is ready with open arms to offer me comfort, strength, and guidance--the most delicious fruit of all.

In high school I took an AP Art History class and wrote a paper on the sculptor, Auguste Rodin. I was impressed by his life-like sculptures with intricate detail of the human body. After many drawings of human models, Rodin sculpted clay models which were turned into plaster casts. He used these as the basis of his sculptures which were cast into bronze or sculpted with stone. He shaped his art based on the piece commissioned and the human model. To produce his sculptures he employed plaster casters, carvers, founders, and studio assistants. But he was always the creator. His art was a product of his vision and his hands.

Each of us is a work of art shaped by the hands of the Creator. We are pinched, sculpted, cast, smoothed, and formed. Being in the Lord's hands is more than being guided by Him and hoping that it will all turn out okay. Through Christ's suffering and Atonement, we are in the wounds of His hands. "Behold I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands" (Isaiah 49:16). The shaping is often painful, but if we are willing to be shaped by His hands, Christ will create a masterpiece.

'm taking a break from the Articles of Faith discussion. This past Sunday was Mother's Day so I've been thinking a lot about what it means to be the mom. My daughter asked me on Saturday if I like Mother's Day. I like that my children and husband do the dishes and make the meals. I like the chocolates we received at church. I loved that when my husband asked the children to say something they appreciate about me, they were thoughtful and sincere. I especially loved when my husband said to the children, "No one loves you more than your mom." What I don't like about Mother's Day is the perfection that is held up for being a mom--putting Moms on a pedestal. Shannon Hale said all of this much better than me in her Facebook post on Mother's Day.

What makes me the mom is that I was lucky enough to give birth to five children. I didn't know what I was doing. When the nurse left our first daughter on the hospital bed for us to take home, my husband and I both panicked realizing that we had no idea how to raise a child, let alone feed and keep her clean. But we did it. And we did it again and again and again and again. We learned that they all have different needs, wants, desires, and talents. I learned that the only way to be a good parent is to pray to my Heavenly Father and counsel with my husband a lot. And then pray and counsel again. I learned that a family is a messy, yet perfect way to learn. I learned and am learning that the best way for my Heavenly Father to teach me about love, forgiveness, repentance, agency, selflessness, and humility is for me to be a parent.

My second daughter gave a talk in church on Mother's Day. She said, "Jesus loves Moms. I love my mom. My mom is the best mom for me." How true. I am not the best mom. I'm the mom who God sent these five people to because he knew what I needed to learn and that if I prayed for guidance, I would be able to love and teach them. No one loves my children more than me, except for our Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. I'm grateful they gave me the opportunity to be the mom.